The 50-page review of St. Margaret's School is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools. It provides a unique and objective perspective on the school's academics, programs, culture, and community.
"SMS has been leading the way in girls' education since 1908. Our 22-acre Victoria campus attracts students from around the world, celebrating leadership, diversity, and innovation. As one of Canada’s top STEM-X schools, we welcome the brightest from JK to Grade 12. Beyond robust academics and experiential learning, SMS provides a safe, nurturing environment for each student to excel. We are the sole girl-centred school on Vancouver Island and the only girl-centred boarding school on the west coast."
SMS is Western Canada's only girl-centred boarding school
SMS was the first girls-school in Canada to integrate a STEM curriculum into daily programs
Visual and performing arts options are woven into our weekly programs
Athletes can pursue both individual and team sports in our indoor and outdoor athletic facilities
Our residences, just steps from school, offer both community with dorm sisters and private spaces
Near lakes, parks and ocean, our location and climate provide outdoor activities throughout the year
SMS offers a bias free, non-denominational education focused on building confident leaders
2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?
"Since 1908, St. Margaret's has evolved to support the growth, learning and goals of young women. Programs inspire girls to develop confidence, express and pursue their ideas,...(more)
"Since 1908, St. Margaret's has evolved to support the growth, learning and goals of young women. Programs inspire girls to develop confidence, express and pursue their ideas, ask questions in a safe environment, and expand their view of the world and their place in it. This exceptional day and boarding school community values each voice, each culture, and each personal journey. Students flourish where they feel valued and encouraged to become leaders."
3. What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?
Information not yet available.
4. What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?
Information not yet available.
5. What type of student is a good fit for your school?
Information not yet available.
6. Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?
Information not yet available.
7. To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?
"St. Margaret's challenges and overcomes gender biases of the traditional classroom by offering a welcoming, girl-centred culture of self-discovery and achievement. Girls are...(more)
"St. Margaret's challenges and overcomes gender biases of the traditional classroom by offering a welcoming, girl-centred culture of self-discovery and achievement. Girls are encouraged to see themselves as leaders.
Our STEM-X programs provide an enhanced curriculum and hands-on learning to serve multiple learning styles.
The natural setting is perfectly suited to indoor and outdoor experiential learning."
8. How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?
Information not yet available.
9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?
"When your classroom includes a 22-acre wooded campus the learning experiences becomes heightened and special. The temperate climate of Vancouver Island allows many year-round...(more)
"When your classroom includes a 22-acre wooded campus the learning experiences becomes heightened and special. The temperate climate of Vancouver Island allows many year-round activities outdoors at nearby parks, lakes and the ocean.
Our campus is purpose-designed for experiential learning beyond campus walls, with classroom doors leading directly to nature trails, learning gardens and outdoor classroom spaces."
10. What might families find surprising about your school?
"SMS celebrates the common threads of friendship, growth and exploration that bind us together. We also honour our widely varied cultures, languages, and beliefs. While our name...(more)
"SMS celebrates the common threads of friendship, growth and exploration that bind us together. We also honour our widely varied cultures, languages, and beliefs. While our name may begin with 'Saint' the school does not offer religious programming. We welcome many faiths, religions, cultural observations and personal identities.
Families comment on the friendly and collegiate atmosphere of our campus where students from Junior Kindergarten to Senior School often spend time together."
11. What improvements or changes has your school made recently?
Information not yet available.
12. How will your school change in the next 5 years?
Gr. 6 (current),Gr. 1 (current) — Our child joined St Margaret’s mid-year, never an easy time to do so. She was so warmly welcomed by the girls and teachers, and that really assisted in her transition. Since she was behind in reading she immediately received wrap-around support and showed amazing progress. Her confidence, curiosity, and hands-on learning all grew by leaps and bounds. She enjoys her friends, teachers, and the wide range of opportunities. She immediately joined the after-school tennis and Lego club, she’s learned to code, build a greenhouse, and jumped into French, even though she hadn’t learned the language before. We are thankful every day to be part of such an amazing school. Our daughter can’t wait for Grade 2 and has asked to be signed up for “everything” because she doesn’t want to miss out on all the fun and learning.
Gr. 5 (current),K (current),K (current) — My daughters absolutely love the close, caring community at SMS. They enjoy small classes that foster close relationships with both fellow students and educators. Given the small class sizes, their teachers really know them and are able to encourage their strengths and support them in areas where they need further development. They also love all the enriching extracurricular opportunities: athletics, clubs, music, and leadership, which add an important and valuable addition to the learning they are doing within the regular school day. As our family lives close to SMS, they also appreciate the proximity to school that allows them to walk to and from school most days, supporting both the family and school's value of sustainability. Finally, they value the many leadership opportunities they get at the school, including public speaking opportunities from the earliest ages - they experience so much pride from preparing and participating in these events.
St. Margaret's makes every day an amazing day for both of my daughters. My daughters have had an excellent academic education while learning and practicing values in an environment that challenges, supports and inspires them.
They especially love the big sister/little sister program and multi-grade learning sessions. They also enjoy the multitude of opportunities they have to get in front of an audience to speak, perform or lead, and I love that subjects such as mental health and social justice are introduced in the early years. I know that my daughters feel loved at this school - they are safe and cared for in a way that is second only to home.
Overall, I can't think of a better environment for girls to learn who they are, find their voice and build their confidence.
St. Margaret’s is amazing. The entire faculty goes above and beyond. Our daughter is nurtured and supported in all areas. She loves the ability to try many new things as well as focus on those she loves best. Small class sizes and an all girls environment provides a peaceful setting.
The school has been an exceptionally welcoming environment for our family. Perhaps most importantly our children have felt they were an important part of the school community from their first day at school. Our children love the school grounds, with its sizeable woodlot and fields for play, the technology enabled classrooms and the care and attention that both teachers and administrators display. Our kids also love the STEM focused curriculum and the range of extracurricular activities that the school offers in the arts, athletics and sciences.
All 3 of our daughters very much enjoy St. Margaret's School (SMS) and are very proud to be a part of the SMS community! They know they are safe and secure in their environment, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom and are able to be their own person while they learn, play and have fun with their friends. The all-girl environment encourages them to use their voice and promotes leadership in a way that builds their self-confidence and self-esteem.
As a boarding school, the girls are provided with the opportunity to meet girls from all over the world and developing life-long friendships. This also creates a positive community of diversty where different cultures, ways of knowing and learning are shared and celebrated.
SMS is a school that also pursues outdoor education and learning in and about the natural world around them. Each school year starts off with their annual "Outweek" in September when the girls are given the opportunity to spend a week in Strathcona Provincial Park hiking, swimming, kayaking/canoeing, ziplining, and taking part in the Adventure Program. This gives the girls time for team building and to build confidence as they do things many of them have never experienced before.
Finally, SMS provides opportunities for the girls to learn and share in giving back to communities through various service opportunities. Opportunities to volunteer with local community service programs (e.g., WIN - Women In Need, food banks) and learn about issues such as food security and how it impacts people both at the local level and global level. There are also opporunities for the girls to go abroad and work with a local development programs (e.g., building a school in Africa) and learn about issues such as girls and education around the world.
Overall, our daughters' experience with SMS has been extremely positive.
St. Margaret’s School is more of a home than simply a school. With small class sizes teachers are able to offer different teaching styles for the wide variety of learners. Teachers are readily available both before and after the school day, which is greatly appreciated by all students. There are numerous opportunities available at SMS and its safe environment allows for students to expand their boundaries without fearing failure. The Library at SMS is a comfortable study space for students to use throughout the school day. Having this space available for a longer period of time after class hours would be greatly appreciated. Its resources and creative environment fosters focused working habits, so having access to it for longer after school would be wonderful!
Prior to attending SMS, I wish I had known how much I would grow and develop. Through its inclusive and supportive environment my confidence in offering my views and opinions whenever possible has flourished since becoming a member of the SMS family. Through the schools motto of “Servite in Caritate” or "Service with Love” I have realized my love and passion for volunteering in the community, something which I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
The Trusted Source for Families since 1998
